Ubisoft Could Have the Perfect Answer to the Void Left By Animal Crossing

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 1, 2024 26 Views 7 Min Read
Ubisoft Could Have the Perfect Answer to the Void Left By Animal Crossing



Ubisoft has been hit-or-miss for many years now, but when its games hit, they can often be surprisingly great. This is precisely what might happen with a rumored Animal Crossing-like game from the developer, which has the chance to be remarkably different from its usual bread and butter in the best way.




Cozy games may be all the rage right now, but most smaller developers seem to lean more towards the Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley end of the spectrum than the Animal Crossing one, at least in recent years. The micromanaging activities of these sorts of titles, coupled with their accessible, low-stakes gameplay model, allows them to appeal to a broad audience—an audience that can often become incredibly dedicated to over a long period of time. It makes sense that Ubisoft, which tends to aim for longevity with its titles through DLCs, micro-expansions, and other games-as-a-service strategies, would want to cash in on this trend, for better or worse.

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Ubisoft Could Be Working On a Cozy Game Called Alterra


Alterra Sounds Like Animal Crossing Mixed With Minecraft

According to a report from Insider Gaming, Ubisoft is developing a “cozy” game known simply as Alterra. It seems to be taking a few notes from both Animal Crossing and Minecraft, as it will reportedly feature resource-based building mechanics alongside social sim features—something that will no doubt tantalize many fans of games in this space.

It should be noted that, at the time of writing, Ubisoft has not made any official comment about
Alterra
‘s development.

Players will be able to gather different resources and build structures with them, but they will also interact with humanoid creatures called Matterlings, which seem awfully similar to Animal Crossing‘s anthropomorphic fauna. Different in-game regions will host different Matterlings, which are defined by specific elements such as ice, fire, et cetera, requiring players to travel to these distinct regions for exclusive building supplies and other resources. It’s not clear just how complex the game’s social mechanics will be, but Insider Gaming’s sources explicitly describe the project as being akin to Animal Crossing, so a sophisticated or overtly mature social simulation probably shouldn’t be expected.


Alterra Sounds Like a Big Departure for Ubisoft

It’s no great secret that Ubisoft is struggling right now. Myriad internal development issues and workplace misconduct allegations aside, the company’s public perception has been steadily degrading over time, with even Ubisoft producer Marc-Alexis Cotes admitting that a change in narrative is required for continued success with consumers. Ubisoft certainly isn’t above criticism, but games like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown prove that it can still surprise with high-quality titles when stepping out of its AAA comfort zone.

Perhaps the same phenomenon could occur with the rumored Alterra. It’s ostensibly lacking the emphasis on combat and copy-paste open-world exploration that have infected so many of the company’s biggest titles, which may yield promising results. An Animal Crossing–Minecraft hybrid from Ubisoft isn’t exactly what anyone is asking for, but that means that Ubisoft’s developers aren’t bound by the shackles of expectation that have restrained the likes of Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. In other words, Alterra‘s unique premise could pave the way for greater innovation within the company.


At the same time, Ubisoft should take care not to slip into old habits with the game. Unfortunately, despite their wholesome presentation, cozy games can be particularly vulnerable to predatory practices like microtransactions and paid season passes, as features like cosmetics are especially in-demand in the genre. But if Ubisoft can properly thread the needle, Alterra could be a nice change of pace, and even a solid alternative to Animal Crossing.

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